Zoology and wildlife conservation

Protests and promises grow in Russia as science spending falls

Article Abstract:

Russian Pres Boris Yeltsin's $2.6 billion allocation to R&D represents less than 4% of the planned spending for R&D as mandated in a law passed in Aug 1996. This has led to a number of protest meetings by Russian scientists, who are discontented with the late payment of their salaries and the poor state of the science budget. They even fear that more than 50% of the sum allocated to R&D will make its way back to the Russian government through taxation. Meanwhile, Russian finance minister Alexander Lifshits promised scientists that he would speed up payment of the science budget as he also assured them that this will be paid in full.

Chernomyrdin promises 'significant increase' for science

Article Abstract:

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin announced at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research meeting in Dubna that science funding would significantly increase in 1996 though exact numbers had not been decided on. The science organization is also slated for an overhaul that may include closing inefficient laboratories and possibly inefficient institutes. The Dubna institute was promised financial support of more than its $17 million per year to preserve one of the leading research institutes. The banking sector and industry are also being called upon for research funding.

Russian parliament boosts science funding

Article Abstract:

The Russian Federation Council approved a 248,000 billion rubles budget in 1995, allocating 6,300 billion rubles to research despite growing deficit concerns. An additional 800 billion rubles will come from any unanticipated budget inflows, though additional funds are unlikely. However, regardless of Pres Boris Yeltin's position, the science budget is not likely to be fully funded. The high allocation came from the perception that science research has been consistently underfunded and so has begun to decay.